Mindong Chen1, Rong Zhou1, Chongbo Du2, Fulei Meng2, Yanli Wang2, Liping Wu2, Fang Wang2, Yahong Xu1, Xiufen Yang3. 1. Department of Nephrology, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200090, China. 2. Department of Intensive Care Unit, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No 89 Donggang Road, Shijiazhuang, 050030, Hebei, China. 3. Department of Intensive Care Unit, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No 89 Donggang Road, Shijiazhuang, 050030, Hebei, China. yangxiufen516@sina.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The provision of healthcare itself is associated with abundant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study aims to determine the carbon footprints of peritoneal dialysis (PD) with the different modalities and treatment regimes. METHODS: A total of 68 subjects performed with PD treatment were enrolled in this study. Emissions factors were applied to data that were collected for energy consumption, travel, and procurement. RESULTS: The carbon footprints generated by the provision of PD treatment for the individual patient were calculated and normalized to a 2-l PD dialysate volume. The fixed emissions were higher in patients who received PD therapy in center than at home, mostly attributing to the consumption of electricity. Conversely, PD treatment performed in center yielded less variable emissions than that of at home, which resulted from reduced constituent percentage of waste disposal and transportation. Collectively, packaging consumption mostly contributed to the total carbon footprints of PD. CONCLUSION: This study for the first time demonstrates the delivery of PD is associated with considerable GHG emissions, which is mainly attributed to packaging materials, transportation, electricity, and waste disposal. These results suggest that carbon reduction strategies focusing on packaging consumption in PD treatment are likely to yield the greatest benefits.
OBJECTIVE: The provision of healthcare itself is associated with abundant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study aims to determine the carbon footprints of peritoneal dialysis (PD) with the different modalities and treatment regimes. METHODS: A total of 68 subjects performed with PD treatment were enrolled in this study. Emissions factors were applied to data that were collected for energy consumption, travel, and procurement. RESULTS: The carbon footprints generated by the provision of PD treatment for the individual patient were calculated and normalized to a 2-l PD dialysate volume. The fixed emissions were higher in patients who received PD therapy in center than at home, mostly attributing to the consumption of electricity. Conversely, PD treatment performed in center yielded less variable emissions than that of at home, which resulted from reduced constituent percentage of waste disposal and transportation. Collectively, packaging consumption mostly contributed to the total carbon footprints of PD. CONCLUSION: This study for the first time demonstrates the delivery of PD is associated with considerable GHG emissions, which is mainly attributed to packaging materials, transportation, electricity, and waste disposal. These results suggest that carbon reduction strategies focusing on packaging consumption in PD treatment are likely to yield the greatest benefits.
Entities:
Keywords:
Carbon footprints; Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; Peritoneal dialysis
Authors: Adam S Pollard; Timothy J Taylor; Lora E Fleming; Will Stahl-Timmins; Michael H Depledge; Nicholas J Osborne Journal: Environ Sci Technol Date: 2013-01-03 Impact factor: 9.028
Authors: Anil Markandya; Ben G Armstrong; Simon Hales; Aline Chiabai; Patrick Criqui; Silvana Mima; Cathryn Tonne; Paul Wilkinson Journal: Lancet Date: 2009-12-12 Impact factor: 79.321